Key Partners Awards-Mass Mutual Citizenship Award

Welcome to the South Florida Business Journal’s special section devoted to the Key Partners Awards. This year, we have honored those lawyers and accountants whose advice makes it possible for the region’s businesses to succeed, often exceeding their most impressive goals. Certainly, our business community would find it difficult to function without them.

These professionals take their expertise and commitment to the community a step further. While business is their priority, they also give their time and resources to help many who are in need.

As you read about the Key Partners honorees, you will be inspired by their considerable achievements and by the meaningful ways they make South Florida a better place.

The MassMutual Citizenship Award honors companies for their charitable work within the region.

Honorees were recognized at a Nov. 15 event, presented by MassMutual Financial Group, at the Coral Gables offices of LINQ Financial Group.

4KIDS of South Florida827 S. State Road 7, North Lauderdale 33068(954) 979-7911www.4kidsofsfl.org

Tom Lukasik and 4KIDS of South Florida are on a mission. The faith-based organization helps area foster and difficult-to-place kids, teens, siblings, pregnant moms and those who have aged out of foster care find suitable housing and more stable lives.

Yet, finding houses has long been a challenge, says Lukasik, the organization’s executive director. Then he met Paul Douglas Scott, founder and CEO of United States Media TV, producer of television programming that airs regionally, nationwide and internationally.

Scott donated several townhomes to the organization on a $1-a-year lease, Lukasik says. Single moms with babies pay minimal rent to live in one townhome; several other foster and former foster kids live in another. Scott and his team also donate badly needed items for kids aging out of foster care so they can learn to live independently with the support and guidance of a mentor.

“Doug is a tremendous blessing to us,” says Lukasik, whose website says the organization has helped 17,000 children in 15 years.

“Children need a good start in life in order to succeed,” Scott says. “4Kids of South Florida helps them with that, and I, in turn, support the organization and provide what I can so they get it.”

As a growing company – one that prides itself on community relations and philanthropy – Cross Country Home Services executives wondered how they could have a greater impact on local residents. They then considered returning military personnel and the needs they and their families often face – and executives found their cause.

Cross Country partnered with United Way of Broward County in its Mission United program. Today, Cross Country leverages its corporate expertise in housing repairs and access to appliances as part of its Operation Appliance to provide appliances and air conditioners to families, which helps Mission United in its effort to serve returning vets locally and nationwide, who often struggle financially.

“We wanted to mirror what our employees believe is important. It just made for a nice fit from our business and our philanthropy standpoints,” said Sandra Finn, president of Cross Country, who worked closely with VP of Human Resources David Tripp on the program, which helps vets in several Cross County markets.

For families that often have to choose between paying the mortgage or rent and repairing appliances, Cross Country’s donations – which could top $30,000 – not only help, but can serve as a model for other companies, said Kathleen Cannon, president/CEO of United Way of Broward County. “Business and nonprofits working together is a win-win.”

Finn hopes other community-minded companies will follow Cross Country’s lead. “There are a lot of needs these folks have,” she said. “Maybe they can use this as a model for what they can do. It’s important what we’re doing, but there’s so much more that can be done.”

When foster children “age out” of foster care at 18, they face a multitude of issues – not the least of which is transportation. Applying and interviewing for jobs, then commuting to work, even getting to the grocery store or mall can be a challenge without a vehicle.

The Best Foot Forward Foundation is an educational advocacy organization that works with foster kids in middle and high school to help them focus on their futures. Its Strive to Drive program helps arrange donations of vehicles to help young adults achieve mobility and independence once they age out of the system, founder Debbie Ellman said.

About three years ago, John Giasullo, GM of auto retailer Off Lease Only in Lake Worth, had an idea. He met Ellman when she was a customer. The two formed a partnership, with Off Lease Only donating used cars to the program’s young adults who meet certain criteria, including being enrolled in school, acting as a role model for other children, and demonstrating the financial ability to maintain car insurance. To date, a half-dozen vehicles have been donated, Ellman said.

“It’s just life-changing for every kid,” she says.

Once Giasullo’s team saw the first former foster child receive the keys to a car, they decided to help, as well. Employees pass the hat to top off the gas tank, and now help steer the young adults to insurance agents.

“It was overwhelmingly positive,” says Giasullo, who works closely with Marketing Director Monique Hausheer to run the effort. Now, they want to spread the word to other area companies. “The trick is to challenge other businesses to do the same thing. We can do some, but if we can challenge others to follow, our reach would be greater and more people would be touched.”